Pocono: Curtain lowered on this year's John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes

The John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes concluded their 2025 run at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday, with 2-year-old fillies featured in two $48,500 divisions of the Davidia Hanover for trotters and two $46.700 divisions of the Razzle Hanover for pacers. All the eight Simpson stakes are named after a champion horse that the Hall of Famer had a large hand in during his Hall Of Fame career.

Even with 2-year-olds, it's unusual to find a horse breaking her maiden in a stakes event, but the fastest division of both stakes went to a horse who had never won before. In the quicker Davidia Hanover section, Isabella Bi was very sharp even after 31 days off; the people's choice recording a 1:54 mile for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt while widening her lead throughout the last half to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Svanstedt's Åke Svanstedt Inc. shares ownership of the fleet daughter of Tactical Landing-Call Me Bi IT with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing and Little E LLC.

In the other section, Pocono had its fourth straight day of a $50+ horse winning, as the Bar Hopping-Cardinale distaff Sister Wine, benefiting by breaks from the three favorites before the eighth, overcame a two-move trip to defeat one of those breakers, Berry Good News, by a neck in a lifetime best 1:56 3/5 while paying $55.40. Tyler Miller drove the outsider to the win for trainer/mother Julie Miller and Willow Oak Racing LLC. (And despite being a Bar Hopping trotter who has six letters in her first name and "Wine" as a second name, her maternal pedigree does not immediately reveal any connections with a Breeders Crown-winning trotter this past weekend).

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There was the same maiden-as-fastest winner / longshot theme in the Razzle Hanover. Existential, who had earned $115,935, mostly against good New York company, without winning, finally made the breakthrough on Monday in 1:53 1/5. The daughter of Huntsville-Frankie's Dream won by 1 1/4 lengths for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Scott Di Domenico, and the ownership of Triple D Stables Inc., Philip Steinberg, and Michael Federeci.

The tote board upsetter on the pace was the Always B Miki-A Beach Cowgirl filly Sandyboots Hanover, who made good use of lively cover, then drew off to win by herself in a new mark of 1:53 3/5. Mike Wilder handled the catch-driving assignment from Pocono's leading trainer Ron Burke (who usually doesn't send out 18-1 shots) while notching the triumph for Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Larry Karr, and Phil Collura.

Two-time winners on the card were drivers Simon Allard, Matt Kakaley, Anthony Napolitano, and Mike Wilder, along with trainer Adrian Wisher Sr.

The racing week at Pocono concludes with a 1 p.m. (EDT) card on Tuesday, with carryovers entering and closing the card: the first race Pick 4, and the last race High 5. Next week the new "Winter Is Coming" series start, providing mid-week features until the end of the year.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--